Shahbaz Sharif

Every week, Sir David Frost, one of the most celebrated broadcasters, offers you a programme which takes its stories and guests from every part of the globe.

The world's news makers will be interviewed with Sir David's incisive style.

Sir David will get behind the headlines and examine the decisions and policies which shape global politics today.

Coming up this week on Frost over the World:

Shahbaz Sharif & Maria Kuusisto

Shahbaz Sharif and Maria Kuusisto

Shahbaz Sharif, the brother of former Pakistani prime minister Nawas Sharif, and Maria Kuusisto, an Asia analyst at the Eurasia group, join Sir David to discuss the double bomb attack that targeted Benazir Bhutto, another former Pakistani prime minister, upon her return to Pakistan after eight years in exile.

They discuss who may have been behind the attack following Bhutto's claim that supporters of the late military ruler General Zia were responsible and whether it will serve to boost Bhutto's popularity.

Sharif says the incident reveals the failure of the Pakistani president, Pervez Musharraf, to control terrorism, something he attributes to his failure "to win the hearts and minds of the people".

Husam Zomlot says the suffering of thePalestinian people is unbearable

Condoleezza Rice, the US secretary of state, has again been visiting the Middle East in a last ditch effort to save next months US-sponsored peace conference. But a recent poll has revealed that 57 per cent of Palestinians think the conference will be a failure.

John Bolton, the former US ambassador to the UN, and Husam Zomlot, the Palestinian representative, join Sir David to discuss why the majority of Palestinians are sceptical about the chances of peace.

Bolton reveals that he not only expects the conference will be a failure but fears it "may actually result in setting back diplomacy in the region".

But Zomlot insists that the Palestinian people cannot afford not to explore any opportunity to improve their position "let alone an opportunity that is backed and sponsored by the United States. Let alone an opportunity that in the words of Dr Rice is in the strategic interest of America now that the creation of a viable, independent, solvent Palestinian state is in the strategic interest of America. And therefore we don't sit and choose when our people are dying by the day, when the situation is getting more desperate".

Former cricketer Ian Botham made his test debut for England in 1977 - 30 years on and he has just received a knighthood for his services to cricket and charity.

He joins Sir David to discuss his new book, Head On - the autobiography of Ian Botham, which is the 'walts and all' account of his sometimes headline-grabbing life.

Botham reveals what he considers to be the key qualities for a successful sports person and why the selfishness and blooded-mindedness necessary to make it in sport often means that those closest to you suffer as a result.

The Communist Party of China held its 17th National Congress in Beijing this week. Kerry Brown, the China anaylist at the Chatham House thinktank, joins the show to discuss the impact of China's most important political event on the country and the rest of the world.

He also discusses the importance of next year's Olympics and China's relationship with North Korea and Taiwan.

Turkey/US relations

Omer Taspinar joins the show from Washington

Earlier this week the Turkish parliament voted in favour of a military incursion into Iraq to destroy Kurdish rebel bases. The US is opposed to any such incursion and fears it might further destabilise Iraq.

Relations between the two countries already appear strained after the US approved the Armenian genocide resolution.

Omer Taspinar, the director of the Turkey programme at the Brookings Institute, joins the show from Washington DC to discuss whether a storm is brewing between Turkey and the US.